Posted by Lieutenant Commander Sebastian d’Aramis (Chief Intelligence Officer) in Side-sim: Where is everyone. . . .
Lt. Cmdr. Sebastian d’Aramis’ alarm went off at 0500 hours, as it normally did.

The Manhattan’s CIO arose and began his usual daily routine: isometric exercises, shower, and get dressed. Next, it was off to the officers mess for some breakfast.

He stepped out of his quarters on deck four and immediately felt something was . . . .off. He would normally see other officers in the corridor, but today there were none. No one coming to or going from the DH quarters on the deck. That was odd.

He rode the turbo lift up to deck three. Stepping out, again, the corridor was devoid of life. Getting closer to the mess hall, one could normally hear dishes clanking and voices ringing out as the officers enjoyed their breakfast. Today, there was only silence.

Stepping forward, the doors swooshed open to reveal the mess hall completely empty. Not one single person in sight. No one at any tables, no one standing near a replicator, nor was there anyone in the galley. . .

What the hell is going on? Where is everybody, he thought?

Tapping his commbadge, he made a call. =^=d’Aramis to Capt. Cochrane.=^= His call was answered with silence.

=^=Bridge, this is Lt. Cmdr. d’Aramis. Please respond.=^=. Again, nothing.

=^=Sickbay?=^=

No response from every department he tried. Usually, a very calm person, Sebastian began to sweat a bit. Was he the only person on board? That couldn’t be possible, could it?

He thought for a moment, then hit his comm badge again. =^=Calling all personnel, this is Lt. Cmdr d’Aramis. Can anyone hear me? Is there anybody else on board? If you are receiving this message, meet me in the main briefing room on deck one ASAP. d’Aramis out.=^=

He left the mess hall, he made his way to deck one. . . . .

---

Sebastian let the briefing room doors slide open before him. He hoped there would be someone in the room, but it, too, was empty.

He sat down at the table and began to wait, and hope. . .

Lt. Cmdr. Sebastian d’Aramis
CIO-USS Manhattan

Kreeger entered the briefing room silently, phaser already in hand but held low and controlled.

The sight of Lieutenant Commander d’Aramis sitting alone confirmed one thing.

He was not the only one left.

The Chief of Security stepped inside and allowed the doors to close behind him.

“Lieutenant Saxon Kreeger,” he stated evenly. “Security.”

He did not waste time with pleasantries.

His eyes moved across the room, checking entrances, exits, ventilation access points, and potential tactical positions out of habit.

Satisfied that there was no immediate threat, he turned his attention back to the CIO.

“Commander, I received your transmission.”

Kreeger approached the table.

“I have been conducting a security assessment since discovering the same situation you have.”

He placed his tricorder on the table and activated the display.

“Shipwide internal sensors are offline. Security monitoring systems are unavailable. Communications are non-responsive. The computer is denying access to several critical systems.”

A pause.

“Most concerning…”

His expression remained unchanged.

”…the computer cannot locate any life signs aboard the Manhattan.”

Kreeger looked toward the empty room.

“No signs of combat. No damage reports. No evacuation order. No indication the crew left the vessel.”

His eyes returned to d’Aramis.

“Whatever happened here was controlled.”

He tapped the console on the table and brought up the crew manifest.

The result appeared.

TOTAL ASSIGNED PERSONNEL: 0

Kreeger stared at the screen for a moment before closing the display.

“I do not believe this is a system malfunction.”

His voice remained calm.

“I believe someone or something altered the ship’s systems.”

The terminal flickered.

Kreeger immediately turned toward it, hand moving to his phaser.

A message appeared.

TWO REMAIN.

He studied the words without moving.

“Computer,” he ordered. “Trace source.”

“Unable to determine origin.”

Kreeger watched the screen carefully.

No panic.

No reaction.

Just analysis.

“Commander…”

He looked back at d’Aramis.

“We need to operate under the assumption that whoever—or whatever—is responsible for this knows exactly what we are doing.”

The message changed.

SECURITY. INTELLIGENCE. OBSERVERS.

Kreeger’s eyes narrowed slightly.

The screen went dark.

He picked up his tricorder.

“I am initiating a full security sweep of the vessel.”

A brief pause.

“Deck by deck.”

He looked toward the door.

“The Manhattan is still our ship. Until proven otherwise, my priority remains the same.”

His gaze hardened.

“Find the threat.”

Another pause.

“And find our crew.”

Lieutenant Saxon Kreeger
Chief Security Officer
USS Manhattan • NCC-88000
Starfleet Command

“Security Through Preparedness. Honor Through Service.”